Movable dam



Jam.. 3, 3923.

H. E. FRYE. MOVABLE DAM. FnLED APR. 1L 1,921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A UUR/V578 ing ice, etc. to pass and which will automat` Patented dan. 23, 193.

HARLEY :EDGAR rnYn, orivrnninfr'rafonro.

iviovanrn DAM.

y Application filed April 1.1, 1921. SeraPNoAMDJQ.

" To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that l, HARLEY E. FRYE, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident of lllarietta, in the county of `lashington and State of @him-have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Movable Da.ms,fof'wliich the following is a `spec-iiication This invention relates todams ol the mov-f able type.

An important object of this invention is `to provide (a movable dam which may be raised orlowered during any stage o'f water by inea-nswhich are entirely under` the control of a single operator. i

` The invention'rturther aims to provide a dam having novel means whereby the' entire width ofthe river may be employed for navigation `and which is provided with means for directingl they flow of waterso` as toI protcct the banks oit' the river from strong currents of waterpand thegbed of stream from deep erosion. y l

ik further object of1 the invention is to provide a movable dam which may be easily exposed for the purpose oi. repair by work men who may approach the dam safely in small boats.

y A still. further aim of the invention is to provide a movable dam having novel means whereby the same is lowered to permit floatically return to its elevated position.

' The improved dam is further provided with meanswhereby deposits of mud about the exterior of the dam `areprevented andA whereby deposits of mud within the shutter ot' the dam may be carried oft'.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent. during the course of the following description.

`ln the accompanying drawings, forming a. part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, v

Figure L is avertical transverse sevtional view through the improveddam.

Figure Q is a fragmentary plan view ot' the same.

FigureB is a vertical transverse sectional embodiment of the invention,` the numeral l10 designatesa base orfoundation which eX-v tends irom the bank off the river the entire river; As illustrated in Figure 1,thebase 10 terminates below the low `waterlevel and is provided with a longitudinally"extending `main 11 which is `adapted to supply water i five feet `in length and has its rear endportion hinged to the base. by means of brack-` ets 14 which are anchoredy to the base by anchor rods 16. It will thus be seen that the longitudinally curved shutterlQ is free to "length `or the dam and along the bed of the y inove upwardly and `downwardly from the base and when in operative or elevated positionsupports. the wicket 13 in a substantially upright position, so as to form an upper pool. Each wicket 13 is curved longitudi- "nally and has its `lowerpo-rtion reduced so that it may swing 'between the triangular sides 17 of the shutter@ "Suitable earsjlS are formed on the wicket andare pivoted to the forward end of. the top of the shutter so as to permit the wicket to swing to its op` erative position illustrated in full lines in Figure 1 or to its inoperative position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure `1.

The shutter cooperates with the lower portionoi the `wicket and with the adjacent portion of the base in forming an `expansion chamber adaptedto receive a'quantity of water under pressure from the pressure main 11.

Assuming that the wicket- 13 in its inoperative position as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l. a quantity ot `water under pressure may be introduced into the aforesaid expair sion'chamber so that the pressure oit the water will'elevate theshutter and thereby swing the wicket to its upright` pesition as illustrated in Jfull lines. The' introduction of the water 'into Vthe expansion 'chamber will cause the wickethto riseabove .theseat 2O immediately behind ay transversely entending ledge 2,1 and in that ease ehains connectedtothe intermedia-gte'portion ot the shutter' and: to the lower portionoi'the wicket "will serve as a means-tor limiting thezfori directly into the chamber as indicated at 26 "and the other end discharging into the lower pool as indicated at 27. The water conveyor which is generally designated by the numeral 25 has a branch 28 which has communication-with the pressure main'll and with a second branch 29 which also has communication with the pressure main. The branches 28 and 29 of the conduit which extends transversely oft the base merge into a single passage and have connection with the main as indicated at 30.

The discharger of water `under pressure from the main v11 is controlled by means oi a valve '32 in the branch 28 andl by means or' a. valve 34 in the branch 29.

The operating means for the valves which are in the nature of wheels are arranged within the branches of a tunnel 35. The operator of the dam works within the tunnel 35and therefore has access to the operating means for the several valves. The tunnel of courseextends for the entire length of the dam and may be lighted and may be in communication vwith the shore by means of a telephone or the like.

The conduit 25 is provided intermediate its ends and between 'the branches 2S and 29 with an outlet valve 36 which is adapted to bev opened when it is desired to discharge the water from beneath the shutter and into the lower pool. When it is desired tointroduce a quantity of water into the expansible chamber, theva-lve 34 is closed and the main pansible chamber formed by the shutter and the-wicket causes the Wicket to move above its seat 2O and thereby expose a plurality ot' orifices or openings-38 in the upstanding side wall of the ledge 21. With the openings thus' exposed, Va quantity of water passes through the same and out through a branch 39 which has communication with the conveyor 25 in advance of the valve 36. The water which passes out .through the branch 39 enters the branch 29 ot the conduit and the pressure ot the water in the conduit 2S registers on a gauge, 40 which may be viewed by the operator within the tunnel. The pressure of the water in the expansible chamber is indicated by ay pressure gauge ell which may be viewed from within the tunnel, Therefore, when the wicket 13 is extended above the openings 3S, the water from the expansible chamber will enter the branch 39 and will thereby cause the gauge 4i() to indicate the same pressure as the pressure indicated on the gauge -l1. He iimnediately closes the valve 32 whereupon the wicket may settle on its seat 20 and thereby close the openings 3S. It will thus be seen that the wicket in addition to acting as a water draining means functions as a valve in the openings 38. It might be stated that when raising the wicket by water pressure the discharge valve 44 in the outlet end 27 ot' the conduit or conveyor is closed so that the water discharged through the branch conduit 39 will not be permitted to pass into the lower pool.

The branch water conveyor 39 which is connected to the main conveyor 25 between the valves 3G and 14 is provided with a valve L15 which is opened when it is desired to permit the water to flow from the expansible chamber. This of course occurs when it is desired t0 permit the wicket 12) to settle to its Seat 20. The valve 44 is also opened when it is desired to permit a quantity of water to flow from the expansible chamber to permit the wicket 13 to settle.

Should it be desired to lower the wicket the valve 32 is closed so as to cut oil1 the supply ot water from the main 1l and the valves 36 and fl-l are opened so that the water can flow through the conduit 25 out through the discharge end 27 and into the lower pool. As the water lea-ves the expansible chamber. the head ot the upper pool swings the upper portion ot the wicket iu an anti-clockwise direction and thereby permits the wicket and the shutter to settle to its lowest position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure l.

li for any reason the wicket and the shutter Should remain elevated when the valves 36 and l are opened. the valve 3lmay he opened so as to create a siphon in the discharge end Q7 whereby the water will he drawn trom the expansion chamber and into the lower pool. As the water is witlulrawu from the expansion chamber, the pressure of water in the lowergpool will press iuwardly on the lower portion of the wicket and cause the same to assume the position illustrated in dotted. lines in Figure 1.

It for any reasonv the wicket 13 should .remainelevatech the valves 32,: 36;; and 44 should be closed and thevalves3A` and fi5 should be opened* so as to` permit the water iii-om the main. to flowinto thebranch con duit and through the discharge orificesl `38.@1`he pressure et the water `lowing `through the branch conduit `39into the ex pension` chamber will positively unseat the lo.wei;"fportion otthe wicketand cause `the wicket to vswing in an i. anti-clockwise di i rect-ion. i

i oit the wicket and the opening ot valve 32 `so as lto permit thenecessarywater toenter the e'vpansible chamber whereby the weight The wicket may he caused to fall at any vstage oi. the upper pool abovefnormal for which itfis set. `'llhisiis governednbyfthe weight oit the water on the kupper portion of the water in the upper pool is overcome.

` lit-will be observed. that when there is no pressure beneath the shutter, theflower end 'ot thewiclzet will be unseated bythe pres-` sure of the water inthe lower pool whereby the wicket will be lowered.

\ Pressure oi` th-e water beneath the shut- `ter can ofcourse be= regulated. so that the wicketwilllower at anystage desired.

The upstandingside wallsl'lof the shutter move within triangular recesses .which extend. transversely of thezibase `and. grada allytaper toward one end. A quantity of inud and the like naturallysettles in the rei cesses and to discharge this'mud` from the `irecesses I have provided-spray `pipes 51 `which `are provided with a vplurality of spaced 'water ldischarge nozzles 52 for directing water .under pressure along the `lower portions of the recesses .soz as to carry therimud `from the same. The water and mud is discharged` from the recesses through discharge `pipes 53. which `open into the branch 29 and which are controlled by `manually operablesvalves .54. Valve 55 is con- -nect'ed tothe water supply pipe 51 `and is within control ottlie operator. `When the "several `recesses 50 areQbeingsprayed, the

water and mud which is conveyed through the discharge pipes 53 enters the branch 29 y and `passes out through the outlet end 27 i into `the lower pool. During this operation,

the valve 44 is ot course opened.`

i When the wicket 13 is lowered, the upper and lower pools will have the same elevation so that the shutter and. consequently the wicket maybe` moved to an upright posi tion. That is to say the wicket 13 and vthe shuttermay be raised out of the water soas to bealinost entirely exposed.

Y'Vhen the shutter and the .wicket are lowered. the curved formation of the shutter vand wicket will preventithe deposit-oi' mud and the like. Furthermorm the .ielocityfoi'` the water is .increased by reason yof the curved `formation ot the shutter.

Should fioating ice or the like strike the upper portion of, the wicket when-elevated, 'the same will be unseated and permits the ice to How to the lower pool. Pressure'of thewatercauses the wicket to assume its operative position.`

Should mud collect infront of` the openings :38 when the wicket is down, water under pressure 'may` bedischarged by way of the branch conduit 39 through the openbeneath the shutter 12 water may be supplied to the chamber from the outer end in such a quantity that the Iwicket will be elevated so as to expose the severalA openings. With the openings 38 thus exposed the water within the chamber `will pass through the branch conduit 39 and outv through the end .27 into the flower pool. However, when performing the cleaning operation, the valves and 36y are vclosedand the valves 32,45

and i4 are opened. y In the operation and care ot the improved dam7 the wicket lmay be raised and lowered `during the flood stage or low stage entirely by one man and a lower stage than normal pool need never occur.

A dam constructed inaccordance with this invention will not require the use of ma- `:neuver boats and. large crewsof men to operate. them,.s1nce the operator is located within the. tunnel-and the branches ot the same. `The raising and lowering et this dam can be accomplished atany stage. p

With reference to the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a dam con structed in accordance with this invention permits the entirelwidth of the river to be used as a channel and doesvnot necessitate '1 the employment of piers to obstruct naviga* tion. i

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A dam comprising a base, a shutter mounted thereon, a` wicket 'pivoted intermediate its ends to said shutter and means to v2. Adam comprising a base, a shutter swingingly ymounted thereon and having sidesa wicket connected to the shutter be` tween .said sidesiandcooperating with the same and the base in forming an expansible i chamber,-and means` to supply water under pressure: to said chamber. 1

3. A dam comprising a base. a l.shutter ,v mounted thereon and having sides` a wicket rswingingly connected to theshutter-between said sides and cooperating with the saine and i the basegin forming:aniexpansble chamber,

means to supply water under pressure to said supply water `under.pressure to said wicket `and shutter.

chamber, and aftlexible element connecting theintermediate portion of said shutter to said wicket.

4l. A dam comprising va' base, a shutter o hingedly mounted thereon and having sides, a-wlcket connected to the shutter between said sides and cooperating with the same andthe base in forming an expansible chamber, and means to supply water under provided with a. seatlorthe lower portion 'to said shutter.y and a ledge formedon said base and engaged by said wicket` said ledge 'i being provided with means for directing lio,-

` hinged thereon, awick'et hinged to said shut-- uid under pressure into engagement with said wicket'to unseat the same.

6. A dam comprising a base, a i-hutter ter, a ledge lormed on said base and engaged by said wicket, sa-id ledge and base forming a seat for the lower end ot said wicket, and means to supply water under pressure to said wicket and shutter.

l7. Adam comprising va base, a shutter hinged thereon, a wicket hinged to said shutter, a ledge formed on said base and'engaged by said wicket, and means to supply water under pressure to the lower portion of said wicket for unseating the same.

S. A dam comprising a base, a. shutter hinged thereon, a wicket hinged to said shutter, a ledge formed on said base'and engaged by said wicket, means to supply water underl pressure to the lower portion ot said wicket for unseating the same, and a flexible element connecting said shutter to said wicket. I

9. A dam comprising a base, ashutter hinged on the base and having sides and a pivoted wicket between said sides, said wicket cooperating with said shutter and the adjacent portion of the base in forming an ei;- pansible chamber, 'and means to" supply water under pressure to saidA chamber' 'for elevating the shutter and wicket. f

10. Adam comprising a base, a shutter hinged on ythe hase and having` sides and a.

wicket, said wicket cooperating with said shutter and the adjacent portion of the base in defining an cxpansible chamber, and means to supply water under pressure to saidfchamber to elevate the shutter and the wicket, said base being provided with a wicket7 said base being provided with a ledge enga-ged by said wicket, and provided with water discharge means.

12. A dam comprising a shutter having side walls, a wicket pivoted to the shutter between said side walls, means limiting the pivotal movement of said wicket, said wicket and said shutter defining an expansible chamber, and means to supply water under pressure to said expansible chamber.

13. A dam comprising a. shutter having side walls, a wicket pivoted to the shutter between said side walls, means limiting the pivotal movement of said wicket, said wicket and said shutter defining an expansiblc chamber, means to supply water under pres-y sure to said expansible chamber, and stationary means to limit the forward movement of said wicket.

14:. A dam comprising a hinged shutter having side walls, a wicket pivoted to the shutter between said side walls, said wicket and said shutter defining an expansible chamber, means to supply water under pressure to said expansible chamber, and means to limit the forward movement of said wicket, said means being provided with a water passage.

15. A dam comprising a base, a shutter hinged on the base and having parallel side walls, wickets pivoted between said side walls and extending above the shutter, said base being provided with an upstanding ledge constituting a seat and a stop element for the lower portion oi said wicket, and means to supply water under pressure to the space beneath said shutter.

16. A dam comprising a base, a shutter hinged on the base and having parallel side walls, a wicketl pivoted between said side walls and extendin(y above the shutter, said base being` provided with an upstanding ledge.constituting` a seat and a stop clement for the lower portion of said wicket, means 'to supply water under pressure to the space beneath the shutter, and means to supply water under pressure to the front side of Ysaid wicket for unseating the same.

17. A dam comprising a base, a conduit imbedded in thc base and having a brauch, a water main connected. to said branch, a shutter hingedly mounted on the base, said shutter being` toruied with side walls and cooperating with the base in forming an oxpansible chamber, said conduit having communication with said chamber, and a valve interposed in said branch and adapted for controlling` communication between said main and said expansible chamber.

18. A dam comprising a base, a conduit imbedded in the base and having a branch, a water main connected to said branch', a shutter inovably mounted on the base, said shutter being provided with side walls and `imbedded in the base and having a branch,

a water main connected to said branch, a

shutter pivotally mounted on the base, said shutter being provided with side walls and cooperating with the base in forming an expansible chamber, said conduit having communication with said chamber, and a valve interposed in said branch and adapted ior controlling communication between said main and said expansible chamber, a branch conduit connected to said main conduit and opening into said expansible chamber, and a Valve for said branch conduit.

. 20. A dam comprisingl a base, a shutter hingedly mounted thereon said shutter being provided with side walls and cooperating with the base in forming a chamber, a conduit having one end opening into said chamber and another end discharging into the lower pool, and a branch conduit connected to said first named conduit and discharging water into said chamber, the discharge end of said conduit being provided with a valve.

2l. A dam comprising a base, a shutter hinged thereon, a Wicket pivoted to said shutter, a conduit imbedded in the base and having one end discharging beneath said shutter and the other end discharging into the lower pool, said conduit being provided with a` pair of branches, a valve interposed in the conduits between the branches ofthe same, and a separate valve for each of the branches. l

22. A dam comprising a base, a shutter hinged thereon and having sides, a Wicket pivoted `toone end of said shutter and cooperating with the same and the base in forming an expansible chamber, a conduit inserted in the base and having one end discharging into the expansible chamber for elevating said shutter and the other end discharging into the lower pool, said conduit being provided with a pair of branches, a valve interposed in the conduits between the branches of the same, a separate valve for each ot the branches, and a valve ar ranged at the outlet end portion of said conduit.

23. A dam comprising a base, a shutter hinged thereon and having sides, a wicket pivoted to said shutter between said sides and cooperating with the same and the base in forming an expansible chamber, a conduit inserted in the base and having one end discharging into the expansible chamber and the other end discharging into the lower pool, said conduit being provided with a pair of branches, a valveinterposed in the conduits between the branches of the saine, a separate valve for each of the branches, and a branch conduit connected to said first named conduit and discharging into said expansible chamber.`

HARLEY EDGAR FRYE. 

